Tag Archives: knitting

Progress ON DK Ripple Bralet #2

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After my first and failed attempt at the DK Ripple Bralet, I have successfully cast on and I’m well into my second attempt. This one is two sizes bigger than before and my gauge is in the zone.

I powered through the twisted 1×1 rib and I’m comfortably into the body of the bralet. I didn’t bother winding my yarn into a cake and I’m just working from my ball of yarn I made while frogging. I have virtual accounting leadership conference coming up soon and I’m hoping to power through more of the body.

Though it does take my brain some thinking to do 3×3 rib when my autopilot instinct is 2×2 rib. But after 10 years of knitting, my fingers can feel when I am trying to do the wrong stitch and it’s pretty easy to switch. Fingers crossed I can get this done before true winter sets in here in Kansas.

Happy Knitting!!

FO Saturday: Radiate

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Don’t mind me, I’m over here on cloud nine and reveling in fall weather. My Radiate is complete and I am over the moon. Thank goodness for portrait mode in iPhone and actually putting on jeans and makeup. Really gives a good mood boost in the dumpster fire that is 2020.

Pattern: Radiate by Jojo Locatelli

Yarn: Hedgehog Fibers DK in Deep End (blue) and Treasure Goddess Yarns DK Treasures in Gundpower

Needles: US 6s

Mods: Split hem at the bottom instead of a bottom solid band

I may have lengthened this sweater to cover my shelter in place enhanced bum. But I think the length really ends up flattering around what is usually my thickest section. I couldn’t be more happy with how the indie dyed black yarn played out. Absolutely no issues with pooling, flashing or lines between my skeins. But I did alternate skeins using the helical method.

I used less than one skein of the blue color and just under four and a half skeins of the main black color. All told I used 1,380 yards of DK weight yarn for the large to extra large size. I honestly can’t remember what I picked. But all told I it’s five skeins of DK yarn.

I wore this sweater to my virtual knitting retreat this past weekend and I got lots of Ooohs and Aaahs from the attendees. I can’t wait until it’s cold enough here to wear to work!

Happy Knitting!!

Blocking Radiate

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It’s blocking time humans! My Radiate is complete except for the binding off of the sleeves. I have blocked this baby in a nice sink bath and I have set it in front of a fan to dry.

I am really pleased with how the yoke blocked out and the sleeves did grow a bit. I am glad I didn’t bind off the sleeves first. The yarn really softened nicely and this is going to be a lovely thin lightweight but warm sweater.

For this to be a FO I need to bind off the sleeves and convince my husband to take some real photos. Fingers crossed I get that done this week!

Happy Knitting!!

Almost A Radiate Sweater

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Knit night zoom knitting did the trick. I have an almost finished Radiate! And don’t worry the sleeves are the same number of rows and do actually match. I made sure to mark my decreases and count my rows to match on the second sleeve.

I have not bound off the sleeves as the body is superwash yarn. I plant to soak and block the sweater to see how much it is inevitably going to grow. That way I can add or subtract sleeve length if needed.

I do need to weave in the ends still. But otherwise I’m SUPER happy to have an almost finished sweater. And it helps that this a ton of yards of yarn out of my stash and clearing my needles for the 2020 Pigskin Party KAL that started 9/25.

Happy Knitting!!

I Found A Knitting Group

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I have reached that point of 2020, as great as I get along as an introvert, I needed PEOPLE. And I needed MY people. A few of the knitting podcasts I listen to have been referencing Zoom knit nights that are open to anyone and I finally bit the bullet and showed up to one.

I was nervous because I didn’t know anyone on the call. But I grabbed my Radiate and a glass of wine and showed up anyway. And like most all in the knitting community they were kind and welcoming and it was an amazing night. I mostly just enjoyed seeing other people’s project and listening to the banter. I didn’t feel like I was intruding and they seemed genuinely happy to have new people in the group.

Bonus, I also made good progress on my second Radiate sleeve. I might have a finished thing soon!

Happy Knitting

Just Be A Sweater Already

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Hello from DK weight yarn sleeve island! It’s a balmy 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit in Kansas and it’s hampering my desire to knit with a full sweater in my lap. I really am ready for my Radiate to just magically turn into a sweater already.

Sleeve number on is complete with all my decreases marked with super fancy paper clips. And I’m roughly halfway through the decrease on sleeve number two. I have plenty of yarn and I’m not seeing any discernable pooling with the black. So I think this is the home stretch. I just need to find the mojo!

Happy Knitting!!

FINALLY, Retro Rainbow Vanilla Socks

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I have a finishing thing, and it’s not even Friday! My Retro Rainbow Vanilla Socks are finished, ends woven in, (not blocked) and photographed!

Pattern: 72 Stitch Toe Up Vanilla Socks (my own pattern)

Yarn: Muststash Yarn & Fiber Perfect Must Match in the Retro Rainbow colorway

Needles: US 0s

I used roughly 70 grams or 308 yards of yarn to make these two socks. They run a nice way up my calf. The negative ease is quite robust across the top of the foot but is fairly decent overall. I didn’t end up with a perfectly matching pair of socks. This was NOT a fault of the wonderfully dyed yarn. My gauge was slightly different on the second sock log and second heel. And therefore I ended up with fraternal twins instead of identical twins.

But for sure I’m going to have a really nice cozy and bright pair of socks for the coming winter. These are my first socks from this dyer so I’m excite to see how they wear. And yes, I will need to wash them but I just couldn’t be bothered to block them

My sock needles feel empty and cold so I need to figure out what to put on them next! Happy Knitting!!

The Last Heel

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Thanks to some socially distanced travels to the grandparents this weekend for Jellybean’s 6th birthday…I have almost finished socks!! My Retro Rainbow Socks are almost complete and basking in the early Kansas fall season.

The first sock is still complete and the second one is a complete tube with a finished cuff. I have a sneaking suspicion that my socks will end up being fraternal rather than identical. Most certainly due to my gauge and no fault of the dyer. This pandemic and remote school has played all kinds of hell with my tension.

Fingers crossed I have a finished pair of socks this week! Happy Knitting!!

Soaking In The Last Of Summer

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I snapped this photo a week or so ago. I was soaking in the last heat wave before temperatures started falling towards more Midwestern Fall appropriate range. We had a week of 95 degree plus temperatures and I was melting outside with the kids as they swang and swam merrily along.

I decided to do a little self care after the kids went to bed I headed back to the kiddie pool with wine, a good true crime podcast and SOLITUDE. I spent 45 minutes floating and watching the sunset. No one was screaming “MOMMY!!” or climbing all over me. I may have scared the neighbors with my true crime obsession but I came out the other side much more relaxed.

Happy Self Care!!

School Line Knitting

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I am now officially a school pickup and drop off Kindergarten mom. Thanks to the weirdness that is 2020 the husband and I now have to plan school drop and school pickup into our work day. And with temperature/mask checks….the car line can be long.

I’m going to leave the politics and drama out of this and I’m not soliciting any advice or input. My family made the hybrid learning choice for Jellybean because that is what we need as a family. It will be CrAzY stressful and I have already forgotten to pick up Jellybean after school (it was day two of in person #momfail).

So I’m choosing to use this roughly 30 to 40 minutes a day to knit in line and have chats with Jellybean about superheros and the best snack foods. For as long as this lasts I hope to get some bonding time with Jellybean and maybe crank out some more socks.

PS. My Big Bang Theory project bag makes me super happy.

Happy Knitting!!